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MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

LEADING TO THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING (M.A.T.)

 

Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is to offer an alternative teacher certification pathway in Early Intervention Birth – 5 or Elementary Education Grades 1-5.

 

Requirements for Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching degree program, an applicant must:

      • Meet all University admission requirements.
      • Possess a Bachelor's degree with a 2.75 cumulative GPA or a master's degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 from a regionally accredited university.
      • Achieve passing scores on the PRAXIS Core Academic Skills for Educators PPST (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics). If the student scored 22 or higher on the ACT or earned a master's degree from an accredited university, these tests are waived.
      • Achieve a passing score on the PRAXIS II elementary specialty examination.
      • Have at least 520 points based on the formula of 87 times the undergraduate cumulative grade point average plus the General Test (Verbal plus Quantitative) scaled score of the Graduate Record Examination for regular admission status.
      • Preference will be given to applicants with a minimum of three years of successful work experience in the area related to the initial degree or in the field of education or in another service related area.
      • Participate in a mandatory admissions interview.

 

Selective Admission and Retention in Teacher Education (SARTE) Policies
And
Procedures Applicable to the Master of Arts in Teaching Degree

A person desiring to become a teacher must maintain academic standards and demonstrate qualifications for successful teaching including satisfactory performance in field experiences. Therefore, the College of Education at Southeastern Louisiana University reserves the right to recruit, admit and retain in the Professional Program in Teacher Education only those students who show evidence of being capable of performing in an acceptable professional manner. Enrollment in the professional program does not guarantee that a student will receive the degree or certification sought simply because he/she completes a number of courses or is in the field the required number of hours.

Certification requirements are specified by the State Legislature and/or the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and coordinated by the State Department of Education. These requirements are subject to periodic modification, which may not occur at times appropriate for inclusion in the annual publication of the University Catalog. It is the responsibility of the students to make periodic checks for such changes with their academic advisers and/or department head.

 

SARTE Status

To be considered for full SARTE status to the Master of Arts in Teaching degree program, an applicant must:

      • Meet all requirements for admission to Graduate Studies and to the Master of Arts in Teaching degree program.
      • Apply for Selective Admission and Retention in Teacher Education (SARTE) in the first course (MAT 610).
      • Achieve a grade of B or better in MAT 610 (Fundamentals I: Teaching and Learning for General Education). MAT 610 must be repeated if the grade is lower than a B.
      • Not have been convicted of a felony.
      • Maintain a cumulative 3.0 graduate GPA with no grade below "C" and not more than one "C" grade.

Ongoing screening of each student utilizing the standards of the Professional Program in Teacher Education will occur each semester of a student's enrollment.

      • Students will be permitted to repeat only two MAT courses.
      • Students will be permitted to enroll in any course only twice.

 

Students demonstrating behaviors or characteristics that make it questionable whether they can succeed in the teaching profession will be referred for a Professional Performance Review. A review may result in:

      • No actions being taken but further observations.
      • Recommendation of a Professional Improvement Plan (PIP) monitored by the Coordinator of the Teacher Development program.
      • Referral to the SARTE Committee which may recommend:
          • Probation with specified conditions.
          • Temporary suspension from the MAT and the Teacher Education Program with specified conditions.
          • Expulsion from the MAT degree and the Teacher Education Program.

 

Requirements for Admission - Early Intervention Birth - 5

To be considered for the Master of Arts in Teaching, Early Intervention program, an applicant must:

  1. Have satisfactorily completed a baccalaureate degree with a 2.5 GPA.
  2. Achieve a passing score on PRAXIS I OR ACT composite score of 22 or higher OR an SAT composite score of 1030 or higher OR a Master's degree.
  3. Achieve a passing score on PRAXIS II in elementary specialty content area.
  4. Have at least 520 points based on the formula of 87 times the undergraduate cumulative grade point average plus the General Test (Verbal plus Quantitative) scaled score of the Graduate Record Examination for regular admission status.

 

Knowledge of the Learner and Learning Environment

ECE 601 3 hours
SPED 682 3 hours
SPED 689 3 hours
SPED 680 3 hours
EDUC 677 3 hours
Total 15 hours

 

Methodology and Teaching

SPED 683 3 hours
SPED 688 3 hours
EDUC 678 3 hours
SPED 685 3 hours
Total 12 hours

 

Student Teaching or Internship

SPED 693 or SPED 694 6 hours
Total 6 hours
   
Other Courses  
EDUC 601 3 hours
EDUC 657 3 hours
Total 6 hours
Program Total 39 hours

 

Teacher Certification

Requirements beyond the Master's Degree may be necessary if the student is deficient in certification requisites. Students may elect to focus course work toward State of Louisiana Certification in the following areas:

      • Teachers of Mild/Moderate Disabilities (Generic)
      • Early Intervention
      • Educational Diagnostician
      • Supervisor/Director of Special Education
      • Academic Gifted (Academically Gifted)

Students desiring to pursue any of the above should consult with their faculty advisor or Department Head for requirements.

 

Courses in the MAT Program (Elementary Grades 1-5)

Candidates participating in the MAT program are admitted as a cohort each summer and must commit to attending full time for one academic year (Summer I: 12 hours; Fall I: 9 hours; Spring I: 9 hours); Summer II will be the completion of the research project and Fall II will be student teaching or the 1st semester of the internship. The courses are delivered on campus with field experiences during the day. Candidates who are unable to remain with their cohort may be eligible to re-enter with a new cohort group.

 

Summer I (12 hours)

MAT 610: Fundamentals I: Teaching and Learning for General Education 3 hours
MAT 615: Fundamentals II: Teaching and Learning for Special Education 3 hours
MAT 620: Learning and Behavior Theories in Inclusive Elementary Classrooms 3 hours
MAT 630: Assessment I: Inclusive Elementary Classroom Education 3 hours

 

Fall I (9 hours)

MAT 622: Classroom Mgmt and Organization for Inclusive Elementary Classrooms 3 hours
MAT 631: Assessment II: Inclusive Elementary Classroom Education 3 hours
MAT 640: Intro to Reading and Language Arts in Inclusive Elementary Classrooms 3 hours

 

Spring I (9 hours)

MAT 650: Integrated Learning Methods: Math, Physical Science, and Info Literacy 3 hours
MAT 651: Integrated Learning Methods: Life Sciences, Health and PE, and Info Literacy 3 hours
MAT 652: Integrated Learning Methods: Social Studies, Arts, Music, and Info Literacy 3 hours

 

Summer II (3 hours)

MAT 670: Research Design for Inclusive Elementary Classroom Education 3 hours

 

Fall II (3-6 hours)

MAT 689: Student Teaching in Elementary Education 6 hours
or  
MAT 688: Internship in Elementary Education 6 hours
(2 consecutive semesters – 3 hours each semester)  
   
Total 39 hours

 

Portfolios

As part of the College of Education focus on performance-based outcomes, portfolios will be incorporated into the assessment system for students enrolled in an approved Teacher Education Program.

The portfolio will allow the students to demonstrate, through reflections, their understanding of how the artifacts contained in the portfolio meet the program outcomes; provide a process by which a student can become a reflective practitioner to foster continuous improvement; and document a student's growth in the program. The portfolio will consist of artifacts, documents, and evidence which demonstrate that the knowledge, skills, and dispositions as indicated in the Louisiana Components of Effective Teaching and the program's Conceptual Framework have been met. Students will submit an Introductory Level Portfolio after successful completion of MAT 610, MAT 615, MAT 620, and MAT 630. The Developing Level Portfolio will be submitted as a prerequisite for student teaching or internship. The Competency Level Portfolio and oral defense are required for graduation.

 

Student Teaching

Student teaching is an all-day (approximately eight hours), all semester activity. The student teacher will be required to spend the full public school day, plus any additional conference or seminar time in this experience. The Director of Student Teaching will make the assignments for each student teacher. All possible considerations will be given, but it is the responsibility of the student teacher to make arrangements to meet the conditions of the assignment that is made. Student teaching must be completed in Southeastern's teacher education service region. Those districts include the following: Ascension Parish, City of Bogalusa, East Baton Rouge Parish, Jefferson Parish (Kenner and Metairie area), Livingston Parish, St. Charles Parish, St. James Parish, St. John Parish, St. Tammany Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Washington Parish, and Zachary Schools.

 

Requirements for Student Teaching

The State Department of Education regulations for certification of teachers require that students do their student teaching under the control and supervision of the institution from which they expect to be graduated. To be eligible for student teaching, students must:

      • Make application for student teaching one semester prior to the semester during which they plan to do their student teaching. The Director of Student Teaching will assign the grade or subject, and the supervising teachers under whom the student will work.
      • Pass all required PRAXIS examinations: PPST, Content Specialty Area(s), and PLT.
      • Pass the Introductory Level and Developing Level of the Portfolio.
      • Complete all required MAT course work with a cumulative 3.0 GPA average with no grade below "C" and not more than one "C" grade on graduate work.
      • Have approval of the Director of Student Teaching.

 

Internship Year

An internship may be approved in lieu of student teaching. An internship consists of two consecutive semesters of teaching at an approved school site at the appropriate grade level and in the area of certification. Students may qualify for a year-long internship in Southeastern's teacher education service region.

To qualify for an internship, a student must provide:

      • Verification that all prerequisites have been met the semester prior to the internship.
      • Verification that all required parts of the PRAXIS have been successfully passed.
      • Written recommendation from all of the candidates' methods instructors and a rating using the Professional Attributes and Characteristics Scale.
      • Completed application for MAT internship.
      • Verification that the school has a state approved classification.
      • Verification that the school is accredited by the regional accrediting agency.
      • Verification that the principal/assistant principal has certification in Principalship and training in supervision.
      • Verification that the principal/assistant principal has served in this role for a minimum of three years.
      • Signed Principal/Assistant Principal Internship Agreement form.
      • Verification that a mentor teacher, who has taught a minimum of three years in the area of the intern's certification, will be assigned by the principal/assistant principal to assist the intern.
      • Verification of minimum class size in the area of certification.
      • Evidence of cultural diversity within the school population.
      • A copy of the signed Internship Agreement form.
      • A copy of the contract or employee agreement after the internship has been approved.
      • A copy of the teaching schedule (Grades 1-5) signed by the principal/assistant principal.

Note: The candidate is responsible for submitting the above documents the semester prior to beginning the internship. A complete packet should be submitted rather than item by item. Authorization to register for an internship will not be granted until all documents have been submitted.

 

Requirements to Receive the MAT Degree

To receive the Master of Arts in Teaching degree, a student must:

      • Maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA with no grade below "C" and not more than one "C" grade on graduate work.
      • Students will be permitted to enroll in and/or withdraw from any MAT course only twice.
      • Students will be permitted to repeat only two MAT courses.
      • Be recommended for the degree by the department's graduate coordinator upon completion of all requirements stated in the degree plan.
      • Satisfactorily complete 39 hours of graduate work for the concentration in elementary education for Grades 1-5.
      • Satisfactorily complete an oral defense.
      • Pass all required PRAXIS examinations.